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Writer's pictureTracy Sherlock

Pandemic Diary Week 34: All eyes on the American election


The big news this week is the American election, but the pandemic is worse than ever. (Wikimedia Photo.)


All eyes are glued to the set, fixated, waiting for the American election to be decided. We still don’t know who won or whether the loser will accept the results. But, thank goodness, this isn’t a blog about American politics. While they iron out their race for president, here’s a short update on covid-19 this week.

British Columbia reported 425 new covid-19 cases in a single day this week, an all-time high. For the past week, the province averaged 350 new cases a day, a huge jump from a month ago when our 7-day average was 118. We jumped from 15,000 cases to 16,000 cases in just four days.

In schools, there were 68 exposures just since last weekend. People are being asked to wear masks anytime they are indoors in public spaces and no one is allowed to have more than six people over to visit.

Globally, new lockdowns are happening throughout Europe and there are more than 500,000 new cases every day.

One of the true tragedies of this pandemic is what it has meant for elderly people, who are at high risk for the disease. It means grandparents can’t see their grandchildren or their children, without risking getting sick. Even more heartbreaking, it has meant people in long-term care homes have had to go without visitors for months on end. Many of them, who might have dementia, probably do not understand why their loved ones aren’t there.

B.C.’s seniors’ advocate says Isobel Mackenzie shared a survey that shows seniors are not happy with the restrictions.

“When we started visit restrictions, the goal was to ensure residents in long-term care and assisted living were kept safe from COVID-19. Eight months later, we need to ask the question: What are we keeping them safe for if it is not to enjoy the time they have left with the ones they love?” Mackenzie said in a news release.

Covid-19 has killed 151 residents of long-term care, but more than 4,500 other residents have died from something other than covid-19, she said.

“(I)n many cases, they spent their final months, weeks and days in relative isolation, unable to spend time with those they loved most,” Mackenzie said.

I definitely would not want to be the ethicist responsible for deciding whether to allow more visitors into long-term care homes. There’s no good answer and lives will be lost either way.

Meanwhile, here’s what happened this week:

- Theresa Tam, head of the Public Health Agency of Canada, is now recommending three-layer non-medical masks with a filter, as the most effective against covid-19, the CBC reports.

- A Burnaby company is testing an oral vaccine against covid-19, the Vancouver Sun reports.

- An outbreak at a Chilliwack dance studio was up to 36 cases by Nov. 3, including the owner, two instructors and 33 students, the Chilliwack Progress reported. The owner chose the close her studio, even though she was not directed to do so, she told the Chilliwack community paper.

- Crucial early cancer diagnoses are being missed, due to covid-19, the Globe and Mail reports.

- Britain is locking down the entire country for a month to stop the spread of covid-19. Restaurants and pubs will be open for takeout only, and recreation centres and non-essential shops will be closed.

- Prince William had covid-19 at the same time as his father Prince Charles. He apparently was sicker than his father, but didn’t announce his illness because he didn’t want to alarm anyone, the BBC reports.

- Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland was warned of a covid-19 exposure and told to self-isolate, but she has tested negative.



- Pregnant women are now believed to be at higher risk of severe illness from covid-19, the New York Times reports.

- Ontario has come out with a staged approach to covid-19 restrictions, that will apply in different areas of the province, depending on several pandemic indicators, the Globe and Mail reports.

And then there’s that pesky election south of the border. By this time next week, let’s hope there is a clear winner and a path towards a peaceful way forward.

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